I am replacing my first set of shoes on my 96 cherokee country and I am confused about how to install the new retainer springs into the shoe.

The existing retainer springs look to have been compressed on the lower windings so that it actually fit into the hole in the shoe. They were a pain to get out.

The new springs in my rebuild kit are not tightly wound like this so it leads me to believe I need a spring compressor tool or something to install them.

Looking online it looks like a brake spring compression tool tool only allows you to compress the spring without damaging the cup so that you can slide the pin through and lock it easily. I don't seem to understand how this tool is going to reduce the diameter of the spring for me so that it can fit into the hole in the new shoe.

Is this method of installing the spring totally necessary? Can I just allow the spring to settle against the shoe without trying to stuff part of it down into the hole of the shoe?

A picture or two would probably help. Here's some...

http://sdrv.ms/ZcnAYf
http://sdrv.ms/Zco5S9
http://sdrv.ms/ZcoeFp

 

Yeah, Your old ones are shot. If I am not mistake there should be a little cup that the spring sits in so the spring won't go through the brake shoe. The little cup that I am talking about look like the ones on the right side of the pic. I hope the pick comes across and that it helps.

 

ok got it all figured out. Bought a spring compression tool to make the install easier as well.

For some weird reason on the passenger side the springs had dropped in like that. Over on the driver's side the springs just fell right out when I took out the pins so I was able to see how they were actually meant to be installed.